Tents

1959: Living in Tunisia (Design- Yahia Turki)

Time to pitch ones tent and in the Tunisian stamp the tent is on the outskirts of the city of Kairouoan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The painter is Yahia Turki (1903-1969)  a modernist artist who has been called the 'father of Tunisian painting' and whose artistic life Tunisia celebrated in 2003 issuing a stamp for his birth date.  Apart from the camel the site seems deserted

2007: Europa - 100th Anniversary of Scouting (Design - Matjaž Učakar)

but there is a full camp here with this happy group enjoying life together around a scout camp fire.

1983: 75th Anniversary of the Scout Movement

Tents and fire also make an appearance on this Spanish stamp. I rather like the Scout flag and scarf forming a 75.

And this looks the perfect spot to set up camp.

1978: 50th Anniversary of Girl Guides (Design - TF Johannesen)

Or here under a full moon.

not to forget the numerous guiding songs to be sung around a fire and that does look like a very fancy fire indeed in the photo.  No way are you going to be able to swing a billy can over that

2007: Europa - 100th Anniversary of Scouting

although one may be able to lash something together. I notice from the postmark the stamp above has travelled from Haute-Savoir region of France, another great place for outdoor adventure.

1974: Rural America (Design - John Falter)

But for a large gathering of people you need a really big tent. The stamp celebrates the centenary of Chautauqua, a movement that brought together entertainment and education for the people, a section of which travelled around the country. The artist, John Falter, remembered as a boy going to the Chautauqua with his mother when it came to his home town of Falls City, Nebraska. He incorporated part of his Falls City home and the nearby water tower in the background of the stamp.

Sunday Stamps II prompt this week of the Letter T - for Tents and Tunisia - pitch up at See It On A Postcard

Places of Worship

1982-1988 Irish Architecture

This is a church built as a royal chapel for Cormac McCarthy which was consecrated in 1134 and today is called Cormac's Chapel.  Because of a crozier found in his tomb it is thought that Cormac was not only a king but also a bishop.  This Romanesque chapel in County Tipperary can be found on the Rock of Cashel, traditional seat of the kings of Ulster for hundreds of years.

1982-1988 (Drawings Michael Craig; Graphics Peter Wildbur)

A 6th Century Oratorium sits on the uninhabited rocky red granite St MacDara Island off the coast of County Galway.  MacDara is the patron saint of fishermen so every year in July people travel to the island from Carna for mass and a blessing of boats to keep them safe for the coming year. (Seafarers Pilgrimage photos here)

Churches, chapels and monasteries appeared on Brazil's Cultural Heritage definitives of 1986-88

St Lawrence of the Indians church, Sao Roque

St Francis's Monastery, Olinda

St Anthony's Chapel, Sao Roque

When the stamp below was issued in 1925, the illustration was referred to as the "new" Sofia Cathedral.

The gilt domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the largest Eastern Orthodox Cathedral in the world, can hold 10,000 people and is also a symbol of the city.  Construction started in 1882 and was completed in 1912.

The oldest of the structures featured on my stamps today is

1931-41: Land and People

the square minaret of the Grand Mosque in Tunis which was built in 732. 

Lastly is a church with a beautiful view of Lake Lugano, the church of San Georgio Castagnola. In the background is Monte San Salvatore where you can ride a funicular to the top and find a 80m high TV tower and from whose viewing platform one can enjoy a 360 degree vista of lake, land and mountains.

An entry to Sunday Stamps II theme - Places of worship - pray visit See It On A Postcard

Red Hot

A stamp from the 1971 series "Flowers, Fruits and Folklore".  I only have this one but each design includes a scene from Tunisian folklore. The stamps feature, mint, pear, laurel rose, quince, grapefruit and of course this one, of a Pimento - Capsicum annuum.  I can find nothing about the sword wielding figure but he is rather cute. Perhaps he is a character from one of the old Tunisian marionette shows.

There is an expression in Tunisia that Tunisians get hungry when they see the colour red, the colour of appetite and passion. It is also the colour of their famous Harissa, a fire-red chilli blend made from crushed dried red peppers, garlic, salt, coriander, caraway seeds and mint leaves, known for its heat.  It can be served on a side plate with French bread, olives and olive oil or used in soups, salads, meats, fish, stews, couscous and rice. Harissa recipes can vary but it is certainly versatile ingredient.  Tunisian cuisine is the spiciest in North Africa and the country is a major exporter of pimentos.

Viridian Postcard is the hostess of Sunday Stamps, this week no theme,  just pick any kind of stamp.